|
|
| Home > City Guide - Miami - Further Distractions | ||
|
||
|
Further Distractions Fairchild Tropical Garden A magnificent 33-hectare (83-acre) botanical garden, just south of Coconut Grove, with extensive collections of rare tropical plants, a 1440-sq-metre (16,000-sq-foot) conservatory, 11 lakes and lily ponds and the world’s greatest collection of palm trees. 10901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables Tel: (305) 667 1651. Fax: (305) 661 8953. Website: www.fairchildgarden.org Transport: Bus 65. Opening hours: Daily 0930-1630. Admission: US$8, concessions available. GameWorks Miami Hollywood meets high-tech in this vast game factory, created under the direction of Steven Spielberg, with the motto: ‘Life’s a game, it’s meant to be played’. Here, both adults and children can try their luck at state-of-the-art and classic video games, ride high-energy modern simulators (skiing, motorcycling and jetskiing) and then combat their hunger in the bar and GameWorks Grill Restaurant. The Shops at Sunset Place, 5701 Sunset Drive, South Miami Tel: (305) 667 4263. Fax: (305) 740 0912. Website: www.gameworks.com Transport: Bus 65. Opening hours: Sun-Wed 1100-2400, Thurs-Sat 1100-0200 (minimum 18 years after 2200). Admission: Free. National Hurricane Center From June to November, hurricanes are a constant danger in Florida and Miami has the highest frequency of hurricane-force winds in the whole of America. At this fascinating research centre, visitors can learn everything they want to know and more about hurricanes, tropical cyclones, storms and ‘twister’ tracking in the USA. Florida International University Campus, 11691 Southwest 17th Street, Sweetwater Tel: (305) 229 4470. Website: www.nhc.noaa.gov Transport: Bus 87 to FIU University Park Campus. Opening hours: 30-minute tours held Tues and Thurs 1100-1300 (by prior appointment only). Admission: Free. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens Vizcaya is a beautiful Italian Renaissance-style palace set in four hectares (ten acres) of picturesque formal gardens, south of downtown Miami on Biscayne Bay. Built as a winter residence for the Chicago industrialist, James Deering, in 1916, its 70 rooms are filled with antique furnishings spanning the 15th to the 19th century. 3251 South Miami Avenue, Biscayne Bay Tel: (305) 250 9133. Fax: (305) 285 2004. Website: www.vizcayamuseum.com Transport: Metrorail Vizcaya. Opening hours: Daily 0930-1700; gardens until 1730 (last entry at 1630). Admission: US$10, concessions available. |
||
